Then,
directly the spaniel gave tongue the rabbit darted for the open, hoping
to reach the buries in the hedge on the opposite side of the meadow.
This incident explained why the ferret seemed so loth to go back into
the hole. He had crept out some few moments behind the rabbit and in his
aimless uncertain manner was trying to follow the scent along the bank.
He did not like being compelled to give up this scent and to search
again for another. 'Us must be main careful how us fixes our nets, you,'
said Little John, going as far as he could in reproof of my negligence.
The noise of the gun, the barking, and talking was of course heard by
the rabbits still in the bury, and as if to show that Little John was
right, for a while they ceased to bolt. Standing behind the
bushes--against which I now placed the gun to be nearer at hand--I
watched the nets till my eye was caught by the motions of the
ferret-bag. It lay on the grass and had hitherto been inert. But now the
bag reared itself up, and then rolled over, to again rise and again
tumble. The ferrets left in it in reserve were eager to get out--sharp
set on account of a scanty breakfast--and their motions caused the bag
to roll along a short distance.
I could see Orion on the other side of the mound tolerably well because
he was standing up and the leaves had fallen from the upper part of the
bushes.
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